C + K Zones

[martin goddard]

RFCM rules that use zones usually use squares.
Squares are easy to create and easy to understand.

The following assumes "ancient" to cover Armies and enemies of the punic wars and armies and enemies of Rome.  Basically the "Phil Barker period (PBP)"  books.

Most of the battles have a centre and two flanks. The centre is usually fairly open scenery.
The centres clash and a big fight ensues.
Of course there are  many variations upon this  rough guide.

Therefore the central zones should be rectangles with more width than depth. As armies fought in rows rather than columns.
The flank zones should be bigger areas as the lighter troops are more sweeping in their manoeuvre.

The advent of cloths as a popular, effective and affordable choice allow rules to create special laid out grids.

Imagine this.
Four central columns of 8x 4 inch rectangles. 8 rectangles deep.
One column on each flank  8 x8inch rectangles. 4 rectangles deep.

This gives a table size of
Width (6x8) = 48 (4 foot)
Depth (8x4) =32 inches (under 3 foot)

This creates a centre which moves up and back in smaller increments than the flanks. A "4" depth allows various central lines of the army to look like they belong/support with each other.

It would require a specially marked cloth but that is no problem for most?


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

That sounds appropriately innovative, and would give a good look, with the centre grinding it out while things are faster flowing around the edges.

I'm sure it's not beyond the capabilities of most of us to mark up a cloth accordingly.

Simon

[martin goddard]

Maybe CK after PBI 2020 and enemy PBI?



martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

I had a vague idea that that would be the general direction 

Simon

[DorchesterBede]

Interesting ideas Martin. I have played many a game on a 4 x 3 gaming cloth so agree this can be a good size for a 15mm ancients game. A lot of people on here have SB cloths with 6inch squares, it would be great if we could re  use these. What about restricting movement of heavy infantry  ie they can only move in the cardinal directions (N,S,E or W) lights/mediums one diagonal likewise heavy and light cavalry. I think it would be a good idea to tie the rules to a more specific (no too specific) period, most ancient rules cover a vast timescale in which warfare changes considerably - Sumerian carts to full blown heavy knights. So Republican Rome expansion taking on Carthage, Gauls and Greeks would be interesting.  Happy to give ideas a go once we are out of lockdown, as you know Martin have lots and lots of ancients!

Chris

[Colonel Kilgore]

I think that all makes a lot of sense, Chris.

The Ancient "period" is always problematic in terms of aligning plausible enemies. Maybe some broad-brush groupings of armies / time spans, with potentially a few rule tweaks to each to maintain flavour?

I have Huns and Imperial Romans, so have an inherent bias!

Simon

[Leslie BT]

So that would be Fight for Mexico, 15mm game, PBI2022 with whatever, 15mm game, and C&K for 2023!  Excellent idea Martin.

Plenty of room for new figures.  Just German, Parthian, Tuareg, Egyptioan and Roman armies at present, but I don't Egyptians playing Germasn! or are these fantasy rules..............

The Web site says Ancient to Medieval, must be fantasy rules a bit like WRG 1st - ?? edition.

Never parted the covers, and never seen them on a table being played. Never seen the existing rules.

Not even available as a *.PDF.  Must be an old set of rules. 

[Stewart 46A]

Don't normally play ancients but have a Roman and a Carthage armies that I got from my Dad (I painted for him) so would be up for a few games.


Stewart

[martin goddard]

For the sake of discussion (we are obviously just chatting here and not making any wild commitments).

C+K is quite generic idea.
Hellenism
Punic wars and the greek wars
The ages of Alexander the great, Hannibal Barca and Julius Caesar.
This gives us warbands, pike phalanxes, Spearmen, elephants etc.

Units of 4 bases.
8 increments of death
12 units a side (150 figures)
Some BB ideas.

Not sure if CK can bring any radical changes to gaming ancients but would allow an update to the 1999 set.


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Elephants, chariots... ...flaming pigs...?

What's not to like!

Simon

[Leslie BT]

Martin 1999, these must be about the oldest set?

Simon, how's the Crete stuff coming on then, have you no pictures to share?

[Colonel Kilgore]

It's still progressing, thanks Les, as and when other commitments allow. I'll do photos once the troops are done and fully based.

Simon

[martin goddard]

Indeed Les

CK is one of the oldest grid based games. It was preceded by first Square Bashing and followed by ACW Lincoln's war.
There wer a whole bunch of non gridded rules before that. Most now lost in the mists of waragmimng.

Hoka Hey
Company Rules
Fighter AD2222

.......and others I cannot remember.

martin

[Flaminpig0]

Indeed Les

CK is one of the oldest grid based games. It was preceded by first Square Bashing and followed by ACW Lincoln's war.
There wer a whole bunch of non gridded rules before that. Most now lost in the mists of waragmimng.

Hoka Hey
Company Rules
Fighter AD2222

.......and others I cannot remember.

martin

I still have a copy of Company Rules and one will day  hope to get  round to playing it- in fact I would hope that at some point to see another RFCM sci-fi ruleset.

[Stewart 46A]

My first Peter Pig rule set was Lincoln's war, used my 6mm ACW also my first use of squares.


Stewart